Bushrangers finalise squad for 2011/12

The DEC Bushrangers have finalised their squad for the 2011-12 season where they will defend their Ryobi One-Day Cup trophy and chase their 29th Sheffield Shield title.

Former Bushranger Steve Gilmour and Casey-South Melbourne's Jayde Herrick are the two new big inclusions to the Bushrangers' squad, along with Peter Handscomb, Scott Boland and Steven Reid who have been added to the rookie list.

Herrick earned his contract after a stellar year in Premier Cricket where he took 26 wickets at an average of 21.6. The paceman also made his Sheffield Shield debut for Victoria in March where he claimed 6/115 and proved himself as a handy lower-order batsman with a knock 43 off 55 balls.

Gilmour, a right-arm swing bowler, made his first-class debut late in 2008-09, playing two matches for the Bushrangers. Last season, Gilmour took 16 wickets for Ringwood at an average of 25.3 and also impressed in the final Shield match of the season taking 5/116, making him an important addition to the bowling stocks.

Last year's rookies Ryan Carters, Will Sheridan and Glen Maxwell have all been awarded full contracts for the upcoming season.

Leg-spinner Bryce McGain along with pacemen Shane Harwood and Dirk Nannes have missed out on state contracts. Nannes, who stepped away from four-day cricket last year, will solely focus on his Twenty20 career.

Another departure from last year's list is veteran bowler Damien Wright who called stumps on his first-class career at the conclusion of last season. This year he will continue his role as bowling coach with the DEC Bushrangers.

This season, in a first for domestic cricket, the head coaching role will be shared between Greg Shipperd and Simon Helmot. Shipperd will continue at the helm of the four-day format, whilst Helmot will officially take over as the coach of the Ryobi One-Day Cup team.

Cricket Victoria's General Manager Cricket, Shaun Graf believes the selection of this season's squad - which has minimal changes to last year's list - shows belief in the present playing group.

"We have an established team with players who have been in the system for a number of years and achieved much success," Graf said.

"The fact that we haven't chased interstate players, and instead, put faith in our younger guys by offering them long term deals speaks for itself.

"We are confident we have the right blend of senior players and up-and-coming talent to keep us at the forefront of domestic cricket.

"It's also fantastic to have our long standing coach Greg Shipperd again involved and to see Simon Helmot rewarded for his hard work with a head coaching appointment.

"Simon has come from the non-traditional coaching path, doing the hard yards at district level - opposed to being a first-class cricketer, so it's great to see him work his way up to this position."

Cricket Australia contracts:

Cameron White, Peter Siddle, David Hussey, John Hastings, James Pattinson